CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Darrell Jackson has watched film this offseason, of himself and of Nebraska players.
There are many reasons why he returned to Florida State for 2025 — not satisfied with a 2-10 record, intent on improving his NFL draft stock and a desire to lead — but he watched film of his games in 2024 with a critical eye. And didn’t love what he saw.
“I left a lot out there,” Jackson said. “I wanted to come back to be desperate for it and go get it.”
Jackson had 32 tackles, four tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. But he also had an impressive team-leading 23 quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. His season was undoubtedly inconsistent, but Jackson also showed flashes of what he could be.
There’s often been an emotion when watching FSU’s defensive tackle: If he wants to, Jackson can be as good as he wants. When new defensive line coach Terrance Knighton said he thought Jackson could be a first-round pick and potentially the top defensive tackle in the 2026 NFL Draft, it’s a projection of Jackson stacking his best day in every game.
What did he leave out there last year? “I missed a couple sacks last year that I want back,” Jackson said.
In multiple interviews at ACC Kickoff on Wednesday, Jackson discussed playing “desperate” and being part of a defense that’s “relentless.” He will play nose tackle in a new 3-3-5 scheme under coordinator Tony White, but also one that features four-man fronts and could slide Jackson to the edge.
He will face double teams, of course. Jackson knows that’s coming. But he’s smiling and looking forward to the challenge and challenging himself. The early returns this spring were positive.
“D-Jack is having fun,” White told a group of boosters in April. “He's loving his teammates. He's going out there and playing hard. And we highlight some of the plays that the guys make every practice, the way we want it to look. And there's been numerous times where the ball has been thrown across the field and a receiver’s broke (free) and 340 pounds, 6-6 is sprinting across the field, beating DBs and beating linebackers over there to the ball. Because he wants to set an example.
“It's like, ‘That guy right there. That's the guy that's going to lead us to greatness.’ So it's been fun to watch him and his attitude towards the defense.”
Without skipping a beat, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn interjected: “We hadn’t blocked him yet either.”
There’s a danger in getting too excited about improved FSU defensive line play going into 2025, mostly because it’s a delayed takeoff storyline. The Seminoles were supposed to have one of the ACC’s, and perhaps the nation’s, top defensive fronts in 2024. While the line had some moments, there weren’t enough sacks or pressures or fumbles forced or third-down stops.
Now, talking season has brought out some buzzwords of the offseason. Jackson has embraced a mindset, and not one with ambitious stats attached to them.
“Just dominate and be disruptive,” Jackson said. “Make plays.”
Jackson has also forced himself out of his comfort zone and is willing now to speak up. Part of that is a familiarity with FSU and his teammates as he begins his third season in Tallahassee.
Fans and media saw that leadership and accountability were often missing in 2024. Jackson said he knew he would need to warm up to a responsibility to speak up.
“I became a vocal leader since January,” Jackson said. “I didn’t do that much last year. This year I wanted to become a vocal leader and be that guy.
“It comes with confidence. Just getting to know the guys, everybody just trusts you. It’s time to take that step. I just had to do it.”
When asked what he thinks the identity of FSU’s defense could be in 2025, Jackson said, “Relentless. I want us to go do it.”
And FSU’s defensive line is where it could start. Picture Jackson in the middle, Nebraska transfer James Williams at one end and Western Kentucky transfer Deante McCray at the other. If FSU adds a versatile jack, that could be Amaree Williams, an athletic sophomore who Jackson said, “His potential at defensive end is crazy. He’s still learning defensive end. But his get off is amazing.”
Jackson could’ve been off to the NFL, which was his initial decision. He could have transferred. But he’s back at FSU, intent on being disruptive and leading others on defense.
When Jackson said he left a lot on the table, it was indeed plays that resulted in sacks. But it was also a desire to not have his final college plays be ones as part of a difficult 2024 season. And to learn more from assistant coach Odell Haggins as well as Knighton, who can “teach me things with my game, take that stuff to the next level.”
“I didn’t want to leave the program 2-10,” Jackson said. “I wanted to be better. I’m desperate to be that. Just coming back to enjoy my last year in college and help develop the young guys also. And just becoming that leader that I want to be.”
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